group=lower-alpha is a 1995 action Platformer video game developed by Tamsoft and published by Takara for the Sega Saturn. The game received a mainly positive reception for its visually bright graphics.
Gameplay
SteamGear Mash is a game featuring three-dimensional play in 3/4 isometric perspective, and solving puzzles.
The player may use weapons including bombs and punches to clear stages.
The levels are multilayered, structured in 2D planes in a 3D cube-shaped space.
There are seven levels in the game of which two are
Shmup.
The game, in its presentation and plot, is said to have many elements related to childhood and innocence.
Plot
A scientist develops a robot, Mash, for his daughter, Mina. The two quickly become good friends. However, Gash, who watches from his space station, grows jealous of their affection and wishes the same affection for himself. Gash steals Mina, leading to Mash going on the journey to rescue her.
Development and release
SteamGear Mash was Takara's first game on the Sega Saturn. A European release was planned for 1996, to be published by
Ocean Software.
Reception
Famitsu rated it 26 out of 40.
Readers of the Japanese
Sega Saturn Magazine voted to give the game a 7.1546 out of 10 score, ranking at the number 609 spot.
As for import reviews in the west, Sega Pro called it a "cutesy platformer with plenty of unique features".
On a more negative note, Next Generation reviewed SteamGear Mash, rating it two stars out of five, stating that "It's doubtful, in the end, with its cartoon-style graphics and brightly colored backgrounds, that this particular title will make much of an impact in the US."
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